This vignette in the family room is testament to homeowner Jenifer Glover’s personalized approach to decorating: “These are things I’ve picked up over time because I love them.” ELEGANT & ECLECTIC DESIGN, J.G. Interiors, jginteriors.com; ARCHITECTURE, Spragge + Company Architects; CONTRACTING, Diamond Building Developments; Halo OC-46 WALL PAINT, Benjamin Moore; White Room II ARTWORK (right) by Hanna Ruminski, Art Interiors. OPPOSITE The design of the sun-filled family room had a surprising jumpingoff point: the television. “With the TV in place on a custom cabinet, I designed the shelves above it and repeated them and the cabinet on the other side of the fireplace,” says Jenifer. “This symmetry allowed me to fill the opposite space with artwork that balances out the television.” DOORS, WINDOWS, Bliss Nor-Am; SOFA, Restoration Hardware; leather BENCH, Camilla House Imports; My Brother’s Dyslexia ARTWORK by Maca Suazo (above fireplace), Canvas Gallery. A time-worn Toronto house is transformed into a lively family home with a welcoming design. PHOTOGRAPHY XXXXXXXXXX TEXT CHRISTY WRIGHT | PHOTOGRAPHY MICHAEL GRAYDON | STYLING ANN MARIE FAVOT & MORGAN LINDSAY 88 | STYLEATHOME.COM FEBRUARY 2015 “ We moved so we could have a pool,” says homeowner and decorator Jenifer Glover of J.G. Interiors. It was 2008, and she and her husband, Norm Brownstein, were keen to create a backyard oasis in the city for their four children: Gabriele, 15, Jackson, 13, Hayden, 10, and Maya, 7. So when a house with pool potential in a prime Toronto neighbourhood came up for sale, they STYLEATHOME.COM FEBRUARY 2015 | 89 took the plunge, even though it was far from perfect. “We loved the location and the lot, which had space for a pool, but we didn’t love the house,” says Jenifer. “It was a rundown 1930s build with faux Tudor features. Our plan was to freshen up the rooms with paint to tide us over until the eventual tear-down and rebuild.” While the pool construction went according to plan – digging started seven days after they gained possession of the 4,000-square-foot house – the tear-down didn’t. “The longer we lived in the home, the more we realized there were things we loved about it, like the generous front hall and a well-worn wooden banister,” says Jenifer. “Though it probably would’ve been more cost-efficient to knock it down, I’m glad we didn’t.” Instead, they hired Toronto-based architect Tom Spragge to help reconfigure and reimagine the space as a family home. “We pretty much went right down to the studs and started all over again,” says Jenifer. “We always have people over, so I designed a light and welcoming space with a more-the-merrier feel.” Wooden accents and sophisticated accessories infuse the new-build kitchen with oldworld charm. The gold-framed mirrors reflect one of Jenifer’s favourite inspirations: restaurant design. “I love sitting in restaurants that have mirrors angled downward – the light and the images that bounce back are wonderful.” Secondhand bentwood stools and an elaborate chandelier from France have a rich vintage feel that tempers the room’s white surfaces. The steel window frames and mullions were painted black to mimic the industrial appearance of the French doors. WINDOWS, Bliss Nor-Am; CABINETRY, KGA Kitchens; COUNTERTOPS, Asia Marbles; ISLAND COUNTERTOP, Crystal Tile & Marble; Bertazzoni RANGE, Caplan’s Appliances; CHANDELIER, The Door Store; BOWL (on island), Elte; BREADBOX, West Elm. 5 JENIFER’S RENO TAKE-AWAYS BEST ADVICE FOR SOMEONE ABOUT TO RENOVATE Do your research and be pre pared for bumps in the road. MOST WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT Black steel-framed windows and doors define the space. BEST OUT-OF-THE-BOX IDEA I nixed upper cabinets in the kitchen, opting for restaurant-style mirrors tilted downward. FAVOURITE BUDGET FIND The mirrors: The frames were $50 each, then I had the mirrors cut to size. BIGGEST REGRET Installing radiant floor heating in the kitchen and family room – cast-iron radiators would have worked better. 90 | STYLEATHOME.COM FEBRUARY 2015 PHOTOGRAPHY XXXXXXXXXX PHOTOGRAPHY XXXXXXXXXX BEFORE DECORATING / slug RIGHT A rusticlook dining table in the kitchen's eat-in area holds up to a house full of kids because, according to Jenifer, “it only gets better with age.” The space features framed artwork created by the couple’s children. “It’s elements like kids’ art that turn a house into a home,” she says. Wimborne White 239 WALL PAINT, Farrow & Ball; DINING TABLE, IKEA; DINING CHAIRS, Pottery Barn; PENDANT LIGHTS, Absolutely. LEFT, TOP Lively patterned toss cushions dress up the family room’s classic linen sofa. Madeline Weinrib TOSS CUSHIONS, Y & Co. LEFT, MIDDLE Jenifer relaxes on a leather bench in the family room. Crafted from the same walnut as the kitchen island, the family room’s custom cabinets and shelves are both stylish and practical. “The wood ties these rooms together while really warming up the space,” says Jenifer. Custom CABINET & SHELVES, KGA Kitchens; May ARTWORK by David Lee, Art Interiors; THROW (in basket), EQ3; orb SCULPTURE, West Elm. LEFT, BOTTOM Anything but oppressive, a dramatic black ceiling glams up the formal dining room. “It feels like the night sky,” says Jenifer. With leather and chrome dining chairs, a vintage-look brass pendant light and a traditional rug, the room has an edgy eclectic vibe. Wimborne White 239 WALL PAINT, Farrow & Ball; Jet Black 2120-10 CEILING PAINT, Benjamin Moore; WINDOWS, Ridley Windows & Doors; custom DINING TABLE, Cabinet; DINING CHAIRS, Palazzetti; RUG, BOWL, Elte; PENDANT LIGHT, Decorum Decorative Finds. “ WE ALWAYS HAVE PEOPLE OVER, SO I DESIGNED A SPACE WITH A MORE-THE-MERRIER FEEL.” The “more” part of the equation – an addition to the back of the house and an extended basement – tacked on almost 1,000 square feet to the footprint, including a kitchen that’s hosted up to 40 guests. The “merrier” part reflects not only how conducive the new design is to entertaining but also Jenifer’s knack for creating interiors that make sense. “Whenever I had to decide on elements like materials and furnishings, I would ask myself: ‘Does this hold up to an adult cocktail party as well as the kids’ birthday parties?’ If it ticked both boxes, I knew it would work.” Her winning formula permeates the space, from its bohemian mix of high-and-low items to the sturdy and stylish white oak flooring to versatile pieces like the sophisticated easyto-clean mohair armchair in the family room. It’s fitting that a house origin ally considered only for its pool possibilities was transformed through a hands-on redesign that went swimmingly. FOR SOURCES, SEE OUR WORKBOOK STYLEATHOME.COM FEBRUARY 2015 | 93
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